The Stimulus, War and Property Rights
According to the "Father of the Constitution"
"It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood."
"With respect to the two words "general welfare," I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.
"The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war."
"The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when acquired, a right to protection, as a social right."
"The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted."
"War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits."
"Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done."
"Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions."
Source: George Mason University
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/quotes/govt.html
Published by Betsy Ross
Former legal professional and long time resident of the State of Arizona. Have written numerous articles for publication with respect to private property rights, immigration and Constitutional issues. View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentThese 'old dead white guys" really knew what they were talking about (and were shrewd judges of human character as well).
They were light years ahead of their time, and the simplicity of the government they created in my opinion only becomes more and more relevant the more complex society becomes. The challenges they faced far exceed those, however, we face today. They realized that the more laws you make, the less freedom you have, so made it difficult to pass legislation. It's the wheeling and dealing rather than following our Constitution provisions which have gotten us to where we are today. And in forgetting U.S. history. The corporate control of this nation is unbelieveable in that the founder's rebelled over a two cent tea tax, and the "control" the East India Company had over their former sovereign. Just imagine what they would think today.
Powerful. I like the way you introduced the topic, listed some very well chosen quotes, and then let us draw our own conclusions.